From Sushi To The Perfect Date Spot, An Editor's Guide To Chelsea

From Sushi To The Perfect Date Spot, An Editor's Guide To Chelsea

Welcome to a brand-new R29 column, Building Blocks, a celebration of the places we call home, and all of the hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems we love — plus, the new neighborhood spots we're discovering all the time. Each go-round, a different editor will show you around their five favorite spots in their 'hood. Today, we're starting with our deputy editor, Neha Gandhi.

I moved to Chelsea about a year ago, and it's the furthest uptown I've lived, in my eight years in NYC. I love my apartment and I really enjoy how conveniently close everything from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods to The Container Store and pretty much all of the subways are (seriously, all within a three-block radius — what more could a girl ask for?). But, I was worried, at first glance, that I wouldn't find the same wealth of great boutiques, bars, and restaurants that I'd always had an abundance of, in Soho, Tribeca, and the LES.

As it turns out, the options don't abound in the same way, but in the past year, I've found a handful of places that I really love, from what I consider the best Japanese food in the city to the easiest shopping-for-essentials spot that totally makes up for the fact that I don't live across the street from a Reiss anymore. So, in the name of sharing, I'm showing you around all of my must-hits.